Awning and frame for single piece canvas awning construction



March 3, 1959 R. RIC; 2;s75,s24

AWNING AND FRAME FOR SINGLE PIECE CANVAS AWNING CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 25, 1956 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR.

: RUSKIN RICE BY f, Z WWZM ATTORNEYS.

March 3, 1959 I R. RICE 2,875,824

AWNING AND FRAME FOR SINGLE PIECE CANVAS AWNING CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 25, 1956 2 SheetsSheet 2 FIG-4.

INVENTOR. RUSKIN RICE BY *vwm' W 1 ATTORNEYS United States Patent AWNING AND FRAME FOR SINGLE PIECE CANVAS AWNING CONSTRUCTION Application February 23, 1956, Serial No. 567,172 2 Claims. c1. 160-58) My present invention relates to awnings; more particularly the invention is directed to awning frame construction and to fabric arrangements cooperable with the awning frame.

In substantially all window-awninguses common prerequisites are appearance, economy and durability. Accordingly the awnings to be acceptable commercially must be of such design that they are attractive to the eye, are readily manufactured economically, and are adapted to provide long life with a minimum of repair.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an awning of simple and inexpensive construction, and which may be provided with a single piece of awning fabric as the sole awning fabric material, while yet avoiding wrinkling of the material.

An important object of the invention is. to provide an awning fabric having a novel structural arrangement for cooperating with an awning frame.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a novel structural arrangement of an awning frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide an awning construction in which the awning fabric is adapted to extend closely to a supporting structure in the operative condition of the awning.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an awning construction which is arranged to be pivotally mounted on a supporting structure in such manner that the awning is readily latched in an operative position but readily unlatched for pivotal movement of the awning when such is desired.

These and other allied objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an awning structure of invention in operative position with portions cut away to more clearly illustrate the arrangement and with the awning fabric formed in a single integral piece;

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary plan view of a corner structure of the. invention taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure l and particularly illustrating the cooperative relationships between the awning frame and awning fabric;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view similar to that of Fig ure 2 but taken looking upwardly on the corner structure;

Figure 4 is a plan view of one embodiment of awning fabric useful in the practice of the invention, the figure particularly illustrating a present commercially useful cut of fabric having stiffening members hemmed therein, the fabric being similar to that of Figure 1 but formed with a longitudinal seam;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the fabric of Figure 4 taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 4 and. illustrating a manner of hemming adjacent sides of the fabric for cooperation with a head board of an awning frame;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of Patented Mar. 3, 1959 the fabric of Figure 4 taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view with the awning fabric stripped back illustrating the relation of the hems and stiffening members at the lower right hand corner of the fabric of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective view illustrating the formation of the fabric hem about the stiffening member;

Figure 9 is a somewhat enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of Figure 1 illustrating the relation of the structure of Figure 8 with the awning frame;

Figure 10 is a somewhat enlarged, fragmentary and perspective view illustrating in operative position of the awning one supporting means and a pivotal arrangement for the awning frame, such as is indicated in the lower left hand corner of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary and side elevational view of awning frame support and pivot means in the inoperative position;

Figure 12 illustrates a fragmentary and perspective view of a preferred cooperative arrangement of the awning head bar with the awning fabric; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary and sectional view of a further modification of the invention illustrating an arrangement of frame and fabric in which a depending fabric valance-is provided.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly first to Figure 1, the numeral 1 designates the awning frame generally, the numeral 2 designates the horizontally striped awning fabric generally, and the numeral 3 designates the awning support and pivot means generally.

The awning frame 1 comprises side arms 4,5 and a transverse frontal arm 6 which connects the side arms to form a continuous lower frame. A separate headboard of the awning frame is designated at 7.

The side arms 4 and 5 are the same in structure, and the junction of side arm 4 with frontal arm 6 is of the same construction as the juncture of side arm 5 with frontal arm 6 and accordingly only side arm 4 and the juncture of side arm 4 with frontal arm 6 are shown in detail.

The arms including side arm 4 are most suitably made of a light weight metal such as extruded aluminum although wood may also be employed. As may be seen from Figures 2', 3, 9 and 10, side arm 4 comprises a relatively wide base 8 on which there is formed upstanding, inverted L-shaped, longitudinally extending spaced members 9, 10; base 8 and members 9, 10 of side arm 4 cooperate to provide a T-shaped slot 11, and this slot 11 opens upwardly (Figure 9). Side arm 5 has a similar slot designated at 12 in Figure l.

Frontal arm 6 has a similar slot designated at 13 in Figure 1 and formed by a base 14 similar to. base 8 and spaced L-shaped members 15, 16, similar to members 9, 10, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The slots 11, 12 and 13 in the completed frame are in communication.

The side arm 4 including base 8 and members 9, 10 has an outer bevelled end face 17 which mates with a bevelled end face 18 of frontal transverse arm 6 (including base 14 and members 15, 16) as shown generally at 19 in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Side arm 5 and frontal arm 6 similarly mate as generally indicated by the numeral 20 in Figure 1.

Base 8 of side arm 4 has an inward, lateral portion, 21 and base 14 of frontal arm 6 has an inward, lateral portion 22 (Figure 2.). An angle iron 23 of L-shape in plan view is carried on portion 22 and secured thereto by a nut and bolt combination indicated at 25 and this angle iron 23 retains the side arm and frontal arm in abutment. Side arm and frontal arm 6 are similarly retained by an angle iron at 26 (Figure 1). V

The head board 7 which is separate from the lower portion of the frame is preferably provided with a longitudinal T-slot 27 similar to those at 11, 12 and 13, the slot 27 being formed by a base 28 and members 29, 30. Member 29 is suitably provided with vertical grooves at- 31 and 32 .to readily accommodate the passage of the fabric 2 of the awning (Figure 12). The head board is conveniently retained in position on a support 33 by screws 34. V

The awning fabric designated at 2a in Figure 4 is the same as the fabric structure designated at 2 in Figure 1 except that the fabric of Figure 4 is seamed longitudinally at 36. This is for the reason that with substantially all present-day commercial awning fabrics it is anticipated that considerable stitching will normally be required in forming the awning fabric and the fabric width generally available is not greater than about 31. When the awning fabric of invention is produced from this commercially available material, it is most suitably cut from the roll lengthwise of the roll and one longitudinal seam as at 36' is sufiicient to provide the necessary fabric width for substantially all window awnings. Where the window awning is of appropriate size the awning fabric may be of a single piece, as illustrated in Figure 1, no stitching being required for the awning panels.

Referring specifically to Figure 4 the awning fabric as shown is substantially hexagonal in plan view having a border provided with hems or hemmed edges indicated at 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42. As shown in Figure 4 the edges 41, 42 are longer, but it will be appreciated that edge length will vary with the specific application; however the awning fabric will be hexagonal generally.

The upper edge 42 which cooperates with a head board at 7 of Figure l is offset slightly providing short straight sides 43, 44, which tend to eliminate any wrinkling at the head board in the erected structure.

The hemmed edges 39, 40, 41 and 42 each have secured therein a flat stiffening member such as is designated at 45 in Figure 8 and indicated by the same numeral in Figure 3. A plurality of such stiffening members are provided, one in each of the hems 39, 40, 41 and 42. Most suitably the stiffening members are each a web of fabric, plied cotton for example; this provides for flexibility and some slight compressibility, insuring close union with the awning fabric and inhibiting any tendency towards cutting of the awning fabric in use.

As clearly shown in Figure 8 the awning fabric 2a and the stiffening member 45 are, in combination T- formed, with the fabric 2a extending substantially centrally from the hemmed stiffening member. Thus the fabric itself forms the stem of the T-shape, while the head is formed by the stiffening member passing through the hem.

The awning fabric 2a is completely hemmed around its perimeter. Stifiening members 45 are provided in the hemmed edges 39, 40, 41 and 42. As most clearly illustrated in Figure 7 the stiflening member 45 of adjacent Tedges40, 41 and 39, 40 also are separated from each other by a hemmed portion such as is indicated at 46;

hemmed portion 46 has no stiffening member and is quite The awning fabric is suitably mounted on the awning frame by initially sliding hemmed edge 41 together with itsstifiening member into frontal arm 6. Then the edges 39, 40 are slid respectively into arms 4, 5 (see Figure-9) and the frontal and side arms are drawn into abutment by the structure of this invention, and stitching of side panels to the main panel is eliminated.

The head board 7, is slid onto the hemmed edge 42 to complete the awning fabric supporting structure.

As shown most clearly in Figure 19 a dual hinge structure is provided for support of the awning frame; the structure shown is associated with side arm 4 and it will .be understood that a similar structure is provided in association with sidearm 5.

As shown in Figure 10 the interiorly extending base lateral portion 21 and support 33 are provided with a horizontal pivot constituted by apertured bracket 50 secured on the support 33, apertured strap 51, and headed pivot bolt 52 which passes through and is suitably retained in mating apertures of the bracket and strap. The bracket 50 is suitably positioned sufliciently below head board 7 that a very slight tension is occasionedin the side panel of the awning fabric in the operative condition (Figure l).

A latching arrangement to retain the frame in operative condition while yet permitting ready folding of the awning is designated generally at 53 in Figure 10. As shown an angle 54 is retained on support 33 by a screw or other suitable fastening means 55. Pivoted in an aperture of angle 54 is a headed bolt 56 which pivotally receives an end of lever arm 57. Lever arm 57 is pivoted at 58 to a second lever arm 59 which is itself pivotally secured to a side of angle bracket 60 secured forwardly on base lateral portion 21. Lever arms 57 and 59 are provided with cooperating similarly disposed protuberances designated, respectively, at 61 and 61, which serve to latch the lever arms together in the position of Figure l0. Also a button catch is provided at 62. Upon breaking the cooperative relation of the protuberances and releasing the button catch on each side of the awning, the structure is foldable upwardly as indicated in Figure 11, and the frame is securely retained by the relation of the levers with the fixed pivots at 52 and 56.

The embodiment of Figure 13 indicates the manner in which a valance may be provided on the awning if such is desired. The main fabric panel is indicated at 47 and extends upwardly angularly from the T-slot 13; this T-slot is formed by the base 14 in cooperation with the members 15, 16 as shown in connection with Figures 1, 2 and 3. In addition, in Figure 13 a T-slot formed by base 63 and members 64, 65 has the valance 66 depending therefrom. The T-slot is indicated at 67.

The thus described awning structure provides a very pleasing appearance in the absence of scams or with only a single horizontal seam and is in direct contrast to window awnings customarily produced which require the stitching of the main panels to the side panels. The awning fabric is readily foldable to provide the main panel and side panels. Most important a very material reduction in cost of manufacture is occasioned by the provision of the awning fabric in the manner described. This is due to a material reduction in stitching operations, decreased waste of material and ease of assembly of awning components.

The frame itself is preferably constituted primarily of extruded parts which also affords economy. Removal of awning fabric for replacement is facilitated by the frame structure.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In combination, an awning frame comprising substantially parallel spaced side arms and a frontal arm connecting the side arms to form a continuous frame, said frame having a substantially continuous T-shaped slot in the upper surface thereof, and an awning fabric having a hemmed stiffening member extending into the T-shaped slot of each arm of the frame, each said stiffening member being in combination with the fabric T-formed, the awning fabric extending upwardly out of the frame at the slot thereof and the hemmed stiffening members being retained in the slots of the arms, the stiffening members being separated at the connection of each side arm with the frontal arm, the said stiffening member of each arm terminating short of the length of the arm.

2. An awning comprising a lower frame and a separate upper head board, the lower frame comprising par allel extending side arms and a frontal arm extending.

transversely and connecting the side arms, each of the said arms having a base and a T-slot which opens up wardly from the base, said slots being in communication in the connected condition of the frame forming a continuous slot around the frame, said bases having portions projecting inwardly of the T-slots, means securing the projecting portions of the bases together to retain the arms of the lower frame together, an awning fabric secured between the head board and lower frame, said fabric having a border portion comprised of three adjacent hemmed edges, said edges cooperating with the continuous slot of the lower frame and having means retaining the same therein, said means comprising spaced fiat web members in the hemmed edges, one in each edge, and each said web member being T-formed with the awning fabric to provide the web member as the head of the T, one hemmed web member extending longitudinally in each T-slot and terminating short of the length of the slot, and said web members being spaced apart at the connection of the arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

